God-bearer

Morning: Psalm 102; Judges 14:20—15:20; Acts 7:30-43

Eve of St. Mary: Psalm 45; Jeremiah 31:1-14; John 19:23-27

In the Eastern Church, Mary, Jesus’ mother, is called ‘Theotokos’, or ‘God-bearer’, the one who carries God into the world. This does not refer only to her womb, but to her quiet witness to the ministry of her son and the fulfillment of God’s will in him. “Let it be to me according to your word,” Mary says when the angel tells her she will bear Jesus (Luke 1:38). From the Cross, Jesus salutes her faithfulness. Will I be a God-bearer too, and bring him to life in a world that desperately needs his love and justice? Let it be.

 

 

For what do I hunger or thirst?

Morning: Psalm 105:1-22; Judges 14:1-19; Acts 6:15—7:6

Evening: Psalm 105:23-45; John 4:27-42

esus probably annoyed his disciples when they asked him if he wanted something to eat and he replied, “I have food to eat that you do not know.” I can imagine them saying, “Aw, come on, just have a sandwich!” And he probably did in reality. But the Gospel wants to convey a deeper story about a kind of nourishment we all recognize ... like when you are able to do something really worthwhile, maybe something small but it makes a positive difference for someone ... and that feeds your soul and satisfies your hunger more than bread ever could.

 

Three strikes and ... still in with a chance

Morning: Psalms 101,109:1-4, 20-30; Judges 13:15-24; Acts 6:1-15

Evening: Psalms 119:121-144; John 4:1-26

The Samaritan woman in John’s story of Jesus at the well has 3 strikes against her in her encounter with Jesus, but that does not disqualify her, in his eyes, from a full life. Firstly, she is a woman, and Jewish men typically avoid being alone or speaking with women for fear of scandal. Secondly, Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Thirdly, her moral character is in question. But Jesus does not allow these social barriers to prevent him from offering the woman hope and renewal - or ‘living water’. For Jesus, no-one is beyond hope of redemption.

 

Wrath of God or natural consequence of stupidity?

Morning: Psalms 97, 99; Judges 13:1-15; Acts 5:27-42

Evening: Psalm 94; John 3:22-36

In John’s Gospel Jesus says that those who do not follow his Way experience not life but the ‘wrath of God’.  Doesn’t sound like the God I know? But if I disturb God’s created balance in the world and I and others get hurt, that may feel like someone’s wrath, even God’s?  Does God deliberately cause hurt?  I don’t think so. Maybe it’s more like this ... Imagine I knowingly pollute the earth for profit, and I make myself and others sick. Wrath of God? Nope ... pure and simple human stupidity. Grief of God, more like!

 

Second birth ... seeing the world in a new light

Morning: Psalm 89:1-18; Judges 12:1-7; Acts 5:12-26

Evening: Psalm 89:19-52; John 3:1-21

Last night we sat talking with our son and his wife, sharing their excitement about their first child, who will be born in September. When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be ‘born from above’, Nicodemus was more confused than excited. Maybe he came to know later what Jesus meant? Perhaps life took on new meaning and purpose for him. I suspect the light dawned on Nicodemus eventually that, in Jesus, God was making Creation anew, and he could see the world afresh, in that new light. Birth is like that ... both times! We emerge from darkness into light.

 

I will boast of the things that show my weakness

Morning: Psalms 66, 67; Judges 11:1-11, 29-40; 2 Corinthians 11:21b-31

Evening: Psalms 19, 46; Mark 4:35-41

While I love the world and its many rich cultures, I am a disciple of Jesus partly because at every turn, Jesus’ Way takes me down unexpected, counter-cultural paths. And they just feel right. Like St. Paul’s bold statement: “I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” Though I was rigorously schooled in the ‘I am strong’ Stoicism of Britain, I find Paul’s words more honest. If I am truly strong, it is because I first know and accept that I am weak. For whenever I know my weakness, then, in God, I can be strong.

 

Guard the sacredness of your souls

Morning: Psalms 87, 90; Judges 9:22-25, 50-57; Acts 4:32-5:11

Evening: Psalm 136; John 2:13-25

After throwing moneychangers out of the temple - they have made it a marketplace - Jesus challenges those who challenge him: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Gospel writer says Jesus is speaking about the temple of his body, foreshadowing his resurrection from death. Are we not also temples, our bodies sacred places? Yet sometimes we may feel like commodities, just skills and labour sold in the marketplace? Perhaps Jesus is also saying: ... ‘Guard the sacredness of your souls; do not fear, I will raise you up when you miss the mark.’